Maitland Regional Art Gallery stands on Wonnarua Country. We pay deep respect to the custodians of this land, the Wonnarua people and celebrate their continuous connection and care for culture and community for the past 60,000 years. mrag.org.au
2025
Robert Fielding Studio, Tjukurpa Handle It, installation view, photo: Meg Hansen
This is a major milestone year for Maitland Regional Art Gallery and we bring you a rich lineup of exhibitions and programs to celebrate 50 years of art and adventure. In our 50th year on Wonnarua Country, we dig deep into the creative heartland of this region. In 2025, we bring you celebrated artists from across the nation alongside some of the region’s best with a deliberate focus on sharing the work of Hunter based artists. Across the year we bring you local artists like Patrick Mavety, Chris Capper, Virginia Cuppaidge, Gillian Bencke, Darren Horsfield, Rebecca Rath, Xander Holliday and Benjamin Gallagher in solo or featured exhibitions with many more artists taking part in group or collection programs.
We can't have a party without music so grab a dance partner and pirouette your way into the Gallery when we breathe new life into the much-loved film of Maitland born Nick Enright’s Maitland and Morpeth String Quartet. As part of this film by Anne Jolliffe narrated by the late Ruth Cracknell (also born in Maitland!), we have commissioned a new arrangement and performance of its score by conductor David Banney. This is going to be very special.
This year we also celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Brenda Clouten Memorial Art Scholarship supported by our dear friends Vicki and Bruce Woods and hope you will join us as we champion young and emerging local artists with a special exhibition and program of events to mark an incredible two decades of benefaction.
In 2021, MRAG received a generous bequest from Gordon Elliott and Michael Eyes, this bequest will have a significant impact on the Gallery and the community for many years to come and will be celebrated in our 50th year in an exhibition that includes some of the works dedicated to the Gallery’s collection. The party continues in November with the first comprehensive exhibition of works from the Gallery’s collection for some years, Shared.
This is a year of celebration for a Gallery that has art, community and connection deeply embedded in the heart of all we do. Come party with us in 2025 as we present another year full of new conversations, new artists and some much-loved favourites from our collection.
GERRY BOBSIEN GALLERY DIRECTOR
EXHIBITIONS
13 Apr 2024 – 28 Sept 2025
PREGNANT WOMAN
RON MUECK
12 Oct 2024 – 16 Feb 2025
TWITCHER
ABDUL-RAHMAN ABDULLAH, MICHELLE CAWTHORN, TRACEY DEEP, PHILIP DRUMMOND, MANDY FRANCIS, TODD FULLER, ANNA-WILI HIGHFIELD, MARTIN
KING, NIGEL MILSOM, LEILA JEFFREYS X MELVIN
J. MONTALBAN, GINGER RILEY MUNDUWALAWALA, NYANGULYA KATIE NALGOOD, MEAGAN PELHAM, HERMANNSBURG POTTERS, BEN QUILTY, MICHAEL
RILEY, JOAN ROSS, PETER SPEIGHT, BRIDIE WATT, TREVOR WEEKES, CLARE WEEKS, BRETT WHITELEY
9 Nov 2024 – 9 Mar 2025
TJUKURPA HANDLE IT
ROBERT FIELDING
9 Nov 2024 – 9 Mar 2025
TJIN T U KUTJU, KILILI TJUTA, ONE SUN, MANY STARS
MINDARIBBA LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL AND MIMILI MAKU ARTS
30 Nov 2024 – 2 Mar 2025
BODY WORK
DEL KATHRYN BARTON, CHARLES BLACKMAN, ANN CAPE, JAMES DRINKWATER, GRAHAM FRANSELLA, WILLIAM KENTRIDGE, EUAN MACLEOD, ÉRIC MANIGAUD, JULIE RRAP, DHOPIYA YUNUPIŊU
8 Feb 2025 – 1 Jun 2025 BARELY GLIMPSED
PATRICK MAVETY
1 Mar – 8 Jun 2025 US
GILLIAN BENCKE
1 Mar – 1 Jun 2025
MY MESSAGE IS LOVE
MOSTAFA AZIMITABAR
15 Mar – 11 May 2025
THE UBIQUITOUS MYTH OF THE EERIE WIFE
KATY B PLUMMER
22 Mar – 15 Jun 2025
BRENDA CLOUTEN MEMORIAL ART SCHOLARSHIP
8 Mar – 22 Jun 2025
MARGARET AND THE GREY MARE
KATY B PLUMMER, MUSIC BY SALLY WHITWELL
8 Mar – 22 Jun 2025
SINGING IN HARMONY
CHRIS CAPPER & VIRGINIA CUPPAIDGE
17 May – 29 Jun 2025
NOTES ON LIFE, LOSS, LONGING, AND LOVE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
7 Jun – 19 Oct 2025
FOUND
REBECCA RATH
21 Jun – 24 Aug 2025
CHINESE RESTAURANT
PLAYGROUND
STEFFIE YEE 余淑婷
14 Jun – 2 Nov 2025
9.5 THE ELLIOTT EYES
BEQUEST
RICK AMOR, ROBERT FIELDING, JAMES GLEESON, JESS JOHNSON, EUAN MACLEOD, CLEMENT
MEADMORE, REKO RENNIE, ANNE ROSS, TERRY
STRINGER, MICHAEL ZAVROS
14 Jun – 19 Oct 2025
WATERED-UP BY SEA...
MALVIKA SATELKAR
28 Jun – 19 Oct 2025
STICKS AND STONES: EARTH AND BONES
5 Jul 2025 – 12 Oct 2025
BETWEEN [THE] DETAILS
KAYLENE WHISKEY, JASON PHU, DEBORAH
KELLY, ZANNY BEGG, DAVID ROSETZKY, & CHRISTIAN THOMPSON
12 Jul – 26 Oct 2025
MOTHER
FROM THE MRAG COLLECTION
30 Aug – 14 Sept 2025
MAITLAND AND MORPETH
STRING QUARTET
20 Sept – 9 Nov 2025
RECYCLED MONSTER ART
DARREN HORSFIELD
25 Oct 2025 – 1 Feb 2026
MUD TO MASTERPIECE
25 Oct 2025 – 8 Feb 2026
SUMMER HOLLIDAY
XANDER HOLLIDAY
1 Nov 2025 – 8 Feb 2026
SHARED
FROM THE MRAG COLLECTION
8 Nov 2025 – 1 Mar 2026
THE WOODEN CITY
BENJAMIN GALLAGHER
15 Nov 2025 – 22 Feb 2026
THE SHOW
LUCY CULLITON
Photo: Jessica Ward
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR ARTS HEALTH
CONVERSATIONS: ART & DEMENTIA MONTHLY
Conversations: Art & Dementia is a free 90 minute social tour of exhibitions, created specifically for people living with dementia and their carers.
The tours are guided by a trained facilitator who uses art as a gateway for conversation and self-expression, enabling visitors to express their thoughts and emotions in a friendly and supportive environment.
GROUP TOURS
Group tours available for people living in care facilities
See our website for our program schedule. Bookings essential via phone, 02 4934 9859 or email: artgallery@maitland.nsw.gov.au
Conversations: Art and Dementia is supported by funding from Primary Health Network through the Australian Government’s PHN Program
JOURNEYS
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
FEBRUARY — NOVEMBER, MONTHLY
A great way to connect in a safe environment, the workshop welcomes people with a lived mental health experience to connect with art and community.
Free event. Materials supplied. Bookings essential and for all enquiries contact Flourish Australia, phone: 02 9393 9700 or email: juan.du@flourishaustralia.org.au
Check mrag.org.au for event updates and booking information.
EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS, FAMILIES & STUDENTS
Daily
SELF-DIRECTED ART TRAILS
Are you good at solving puzzles? Do you think that you can locate some hidden treasures in the art gallery? Then grab a Code Breaker from the front desk and use the clues to crack the code!
Weekly
FREE ART SUNDAY
10.00AM—12.00 NOON EVERY SUNDAY
SPONSORED BY OUR MEMBERS & CLEVERPATCH
Free Art Sunday is designed to encourage parents and children to add to their experience of the gallery by accessing hands-on activities in a family-friendly environment. No bookings required.
January 2025
FREE ART JANUARY
SPONSORED BY OUR MEMBERS & CLEVERPATCH
Every year we have a festival of art and artmaking for young people with a bumper program released each Summer.
Monthly
THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS
SPONSORED BY EJE ARCHITECTURE
Many young people are curious about art, buildings, design and engineering. Our Young Architects program is aimed at nurturing creative design thinking with fun workshops led by a team of architects and artists.
School terms
SCHOOL VISITS & WORKSHOPS
MRAG is a significant local resource valued by educators, not only for its exhibitions and art collection, but for its public spaces, big backyard and workshop facilities. We have professional artists who regularly offer affordable workshops to students.
Despite being closed to the public on Mondays, during each school term we welcome teachers and students for exclusive Gallery access, workshops or self-directed activities.
Ron Mueck, Pregnant woman, 2002 (detail) fibreglass, silicone, polyester resin, oil paint, fibres National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased with the assistance of Tony and Carol Berg 2003. © Ron Mueck courtesy the artist and Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery, London.
RON MUECK
PREGNANT WOMAN
National Gallery of Australia
Ron Mueck – Pregnant woman is on loan from the National Gallery of Australia through the Sharing the National Collection program.
Over the next nine months MRAG will continue to engage with our own collection, artists and our community with exhibitions designed and curated to allow for different conversations and ideas to emerge related to family (in all its diverse forms), motherhood, birth and the marvel of humanity. Pregnant woman is a monumental work of art that continues to provide great focus on representations of the body and human experience in art.
Still image (detail) from the work Temple, 2022, digital work, multi-channel, continuous loop 6 minutes 26 seconds. Collaboration: Leila Jeffreys x Melvin J. Montalban. Leila Jeffreys is represented by Olsen Gallery, Gadigal/Sydney
TWITCHER
ABDUL-RAHMAN ABDULLAH, MICHELLE CAWTHORN, TRACEY DEEP, PHILIP DRUMMOND, MANDY FRANCIS,
TODD FULLER, ANNA-WILI HIGHFIELD, MARTIN KING, NIGEL MILSOM, LEILA JEFFREYS X MELVIN J. MONTALBAN, GINGER RILEY MUNDUWALAWALA, NYANGULYA KATIE
NALGOOD, MEAGAN PELHAM, HERMANNSBURG POTTERS,
BEN QUILTY, MICHAEL RILEY, JOAN ROSS, PETER SPEIGHT, BRIDIE WATT, TREVOR WEEKES, CLARE WEEKS, BRETT WHITELEY
Twitcher brings together artists from across Australia in a celebration of birdlife inspired by the beauty, mystery and diversity of all things that sing, fly, glide and swoop. The natural world has always held artists in its thrall and birds have been a subject across many artforms through the ages.
As this exhibition moves into 2025 experience the sublime beauty of Leila Jeffreys and Melvin J. Montalban's Temple, that has left our audience clapping or crying at the end of each viewing. It is a must see.
12 OCTOBER 2024 — 16 FEBRUARY 2025
Robert Fielding, Sacred (detail), acrylic on linen, 301 x 366 cm, photo: Kat Forrest, Good Thanks Media
TJUKURPA HANDLE IT
Robert Fielding is an artist, a storyteller and a keeper of Tjukurpa (ceremony and culture). Descendant of the first Afghan cameleers, and the Yankunytjatjara and Western Arrernte people of the central desert, Fielding lives and works in Mimili Community on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.
Over the past decade, he has built an eclectic and vast catalogue of works spanning and expanding the fields of paint, print, photography, poetry, drawing, film and sculpture, much of which is now housed in national and international institutions and collections.
For this exhibition, Fielding drew on the ideas and powerful storytelling in this diverse backstory of work and produced a unique state print portfolio.
This portfolio is a considered articulation of his practice, bringing together threads of his past and present to create a new conversation between times, places and cultures.
NOVEMBER 2024 — 09 MARCH 2025
ROBERT FIELDING
Image: artists Jason Brown, Richard Nelson and Mark Doolan in the studio at MRAG November 2024
TJINTU KUTJU, KILILPI TJUTA
ONE SUN, MANY STARS
Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council and Mimili Maku Arts
UNCLE RICHARD EDWARDS, UNCLE LEON HAMMOND, JOBY PATTEN, KADEN PATTEN, JASON BROWN,
JOHNNY ROBINSON, TREVOR KENNEDY, JOSH NORTHEY,
ROBERT FIELDING, DESMOND WOODFORDE, RICHARD NELSON, MARK DOOLAN, SHANE DODD
A process of doing things together, side by side. To give to one another, to share. During November 2024, Robert Fielding and collaborator and master printmaker Trent Walter were in residency at MRAG leading a series of collaborative workshops with local artists in partnership with Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council.
These collaborative works are now on display and will form an editioned collection for Maitland Regional Art Gallery and Mimili Maku Arts.
09 NOVEMBER 2024 — 09 MARCH 2025
Euan Macleod, Colossus study (smoking landscape), 2013, acrylic paint on paper, 112 x 76cm, Maitland Regional Art Gallery Collection, gift of the artist, 2016
BODY WORK
From the Maitland Regional Art Gallery Collection
DEL KATHRYN BARTON
CHARLES BLACKMAN
ANN CAPE
JAMES DRINKWATER
GRAHAM FRANSELLA
WILLIAM KENTRIDGE
EUAN MACLEOD
ÉRIC MANIGAUD
JULIE RRAP
DHOPIYA YUNUPIŊU
Body Work is a celebration of flesh, bones and the mechanics that make up the wonder of the human form.
Explore art that brings bodies to life as we present work from the MRAG Collection alongside the monumental form of Ron Mueck’s Pregnant woman
Patrick Mavety, Two birds, 2024, oil on board, 81 x 60.5 cm
BARELY GLIMPSED
PATRICK MAVETY
FEBRUARY — 01 JUNE 2025
Patrick Mavety is an Australian painter based in Muloobinba (Newcastle, NSW). His practice explores the everyday, encompassing countryside and urban landscapes, interiors, and portraiture.
In his studio, studies merge with memory and oil paint as he engages in a constant dialogue with his medium, the history of art, and his changing environment.
Mavety’s work celebrates the beauty of his surroundings and deliberately counters the trope of “the brooding artist”. Mavety believes that beauty is essential, especially in the face of life's challenges.
In this series he captures the incredible landscapes of Maitland and surrounds, offering the viewer an opportunity to immerse in a moment through painting.
Gillian Bencke, Array (detail) 2024, silk, cotton, polyester, glass beads, sequins, pearls, found objects, dimensions variable
US
GILLIAN BENCKE
Gillian Bencke is an artist who examines the stories we create around objects, symbols, and language. In Us, Bencke uses the Anthropocene as both a backdrop and subject to understand our drive to collect, preserve, and express our identities through personal and cultural artefacts.
Just as museums archive relics of the past, we too, adorn ourselves with symbols that speak of who we are today.
Bencke’s work uses this language of display to raise questions about the values behind our collections: What will our preserved artefacts say about us? Will they reflect care and respect or be evidence of our neglect?
We are the curators of our shared history, and the choices we make today will become tomorrow's collections — This is Us.
Mostafa Azimitabar, KNS088 (self-portrait) (detail), 2022, coffee and acrylic on canvas, 190.5 x 191.8 cm
MY MESSAGE IS LOVE
Mostafa ‘Moz’ Azimitabar’s story is one of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of art.
Born in Iran in 1986, Moz grew up in a country where his Kurdish heritage made him vulnerable to persecution. Fleeing harsh circumstances, Moz sought asylum in Australia in 2013 and was detained on Manus Island for the following six and a half years. Moz was then moved to a Melbourne hotel, where he spent the next fourteen months before being released in 2021.
Despite these challenging conditions, Moz found solace and strength in his creativity. His work as an artist, musician, writer, and human rights activist became a form of resistance—one rooted in a message of unity and love.
For Moz, the theme of love is central, both in his art and his activism. His quote, "Love is how we kill the monsters. We are all one family, connected by our humanity," speaks to the healing and revolutionary power of compassion, understanding, and solidarity.
Katy B Plummer, The Ubiquitous Myth of the Eerie Wife (detail), 2024, photo: Kuba Dorabialski
THE UBIQUITOUS MYTH OF THE EERIE WIFE
KATY B PLUMMER
15 MARCH — 11 MAY 2025
In response to Ron Mueck’s monumental Pregnant woman, on loan from The National Gallery of Australia, The Ubiquitous Myth Of The Eerie Wife is a lush meditation on the eerie existence of the artist-mother and on matrilineal creative inheritance and legacy, told against the hallucinatory and deeply familiar backdrop of Swan Lake
Love David, ARTCART (Prototype/ Field Test Unit #001), 2023, mixed media
BRENDA CLOUTEN MEMORIAL ART SCHOLARSHIP
20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION
22 MARCH — 15 JUNE 2025
Established by patrons Vicki and Bruce Woods in 2005 to honour their dear friend Brenda Clouten, the Scholarship supports two young achievers in visual arts to undertake a program of professional development through study, travel, research or studio support. Now in its 20th year, the grants will support two creatives –35 years or younger. This exhibition features finalists shortlisted for the scholarship.
Katy B Plummer, Margaret and the Grey Mare (detail of video still), 2023
MARGARET AND THE GREY MARE
KATY B PLUMMER MUSIC BY SALLY WHITWELL
Margaret and the Grey Mare is an opera, a fever dream about an opera and an immersive video installation. It was made in collaboration with a chatbot, coded to act as a channel to an ancient Celtic land spirit. The project takes place in a nameless forest at the height of the European witch-trials, and explores the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence as oracle, witchcraft as a feminist framework, and the troubling gifts passed down through lineage.
Development of the work was supported by Vitalstatistix as part of Adhocracy 2022.
A Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre Touring Exhibition. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government's Visions of Australia program.
MARCH — 22 JUNE
Top: Virginia Cuppage, Autumn Daylight (detail), 2024, acrylic on canvas, 33.5 x 43cm
Bottom: Chris Capper, Geraniums and Shadow (detail), 2024, oil on canvas, 51 x 61cm
SINGING IN HARMONY
CHRIS CAPPER VIRGINIA CUPPAIDGE
Singing in harmony brings together the colourific artistic voices of Chris Capper and Virginia Cuppaidge in a dynamic exhibition that explores the interplay between abstraction, perception and nature. Capper’s powerfully restrained and coloured compositions, offer a sense of space, order, and emotional resonance. Cuppaidge’s formally structured, carefully mapped out and layered colourific anthems evoke a highly considered bond between the artist and nature.
Together, their works create a rich dialogue between structure and spontaneity, depth and surface challenging conventional perceptions. Singing in harmony invites us to experience the convergence of two artistic minds, where abstraction and colour collide as a symphony.
08 MARCH — 22 JUNE 2025
NOTES ON LIFE, LOSS, LONGING AND LOVE
Notes on life, loss, longing and love is a community driven project capturing the essence of life’s most profound and complex experiences.
We invite our audience and community to take part in this final project commissioned as part of the National Gallery of Australia's loan of Ron Mueck's Pregnant woman. The community become the storytellers and contributing artists as we seek to capture experiences of the fragile beauty of longing, the heavy weight of loss and the enduring power of love.
17 MAY — 29 JUNE 2025
Rebecca Rath, The Dam (detail), 2023 Vintage Pokolbin, oil on wood panel, 20 x 15 cm
FOUND
REBECCA RATH
For Hunter Valley artist Rebecca Rath, establishing human connection with the natural world is the premise of her practice and the impetus for this body of work.
Found, in both a literal and metaphorical sense, applies to the act of painting en-plein-air. Of finding or discovering unique and interesting environments, light and texture along with the ongoing journey of uncovering meaning and self.
In this series of paintings Rath brings to life her surrounds, seeking to find new ways of seeing what is in her own ‘backyard’.
Family photo of the artist's mother and sister outside the family's restaurant, 1993
CHINESE RESTAURANT PLAYGROUND
STEFFIE YEE
Chinese Restaurant Playground is a multimedia exhibition about childhood, imaginative play, and finding joy within the frenetic settings of a family-run Chinese restaurant located in Branxton NSW.
“ Having served customers for over 40 years in the Hunter Valley, my parents’ Chinese restaurant was the backdrop of my childhood. Through animation, illustration, sculpture, and archival photographs and videos, this exhibition documents my memories as a child of Malaysian-Chinese restaurant owners in Branxton.”
– STEFFIE YEE
余淑婷
21 JUNE — 24 AUGUST 2025
Robert Fielding, Puturu (detail), 2020, sulphate and heat-treated bronze, sheep and camel hair, natural pigment, inkjet print on paper. On loan from the Elliott Eyes Collection as part of the Elliott Eyes Bequest to Maitland Regional Art Gallery
9.5 THE ELLIOTT EYES BEQUEST
RICK AMOR
ROBERT FIELDING
JAMES GLEESON
JESS JOHNSON
EUAN MACLEOD
CLEMENT MEADMORE
REKO RENNIE
ANNE ROSS
TERRY STRINGER
MICHAEL ZAVROS
JUNE — 02 NOVEMBER 2025
With selected works from a private art collection usually housed in a quiet innercity terrace in Sydney, this is an exhibition celebrating a bequest by our benefactors Gordon Elliott and Michael Eyes.
" Knowing that our collection and estate will contribute to the ongoing commissioning of art and artists into the future is a great feeling. We look forward to an ongoing relationship with the Gallery for many years to come and feel that our legacy will live on and be an exciting contribution to artists and the Gallery’s community."
– GORDON ELLIOTT AND MICHAEL EYES
Malvika Satelkar, Watered-up by sea..., installation image, 2024
WATERED-UP BY SEA...
MALVIKA SATELKAR
Watered-up by sea… is proposed as an alternative phrase for the word ‘flood’. In this installation, Malvika Satelker is asking us to seek a different set of keys when experiencing ‘a flood’; that our language and use of the word fails to remind us that this excess of water was at one-point, fresh clean rainwater, an otherwise blessing for all living things.
As the rainwater pours in overwhelming and inconvenient quantities, we are shocked when this water refuses to stay inside the drawn lines on maps.
Watered-up by sea… also explores the ways of spiders, and how they respond to flooding. Inspired by their actions in flood events, Satelkar asks questions with her work.
" As we fail to fight ever-increasing rising water inundating land that has been under water in the past, how might we learn to embrace and live with flooding? "
– MALVIKA SATELKAR
JUNE — 19 OCTOBER 2025
Ken Unsworth, Zone of Wistful Thoughts (detail), 1984, suspended riverstones, motorised propellers, black silk banners. Donated to the MRAG Collection through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Ken Unsworth, 2023
STICKS AND STONES: EARTH AND BONES
For millennia, sticks, stones, earth, and bones have been the foundation materials of creative expression. Ken Unsworth, one of Australia’s most respected artists, is well known for incorporating these materials in his sculptural installations, including his kinetic work Zone of Wistful Thoughts, which he donated to MRAG in 2023. We will showcase this iconic installation alongside works from our collection and a selection of stunning loaned pieces inspired by these earthy materials.
JUNE — 19 OCTOBER 2025
Kaylene Whiskey, Ngura Pukulpa – Happy Place, 2021. Courtesy Kaylene Whiskey and Iwantja Arts. Photo: Max Mackinnon
Video Art from the ACMI Collection
ZANNY BEGG, DEBORAH KELLY, JASON PHU, DAVID ROSETZKY, CHRISTIAN THOMPSON, KAYLENE WHISKEY
Showcasing six moving image artworks by Australian artists, this exhibition celebrates ACMI’s vibrant collecting and commissioning program.
Working in video offers artists the opportunity to use editing as their primary technique; mixing and matching elements from other films or their own work to tell new stories.
By remixing or rearranging footage they build different rhythms and moods, create hilarious juxtapositions or shed new light on cultural cliches and presumed histories.
The works in this exhibition all demonstrate an irrepressible desire to bring deep themes to the surface with humour and an incredible attention to detail.
ACMI’s collection has a rich, 75-year history from its inception as the State Film Centre in 1946. Since its incarnation as ACMI in the early 2000s, the collection has expanded to include artworks and experimental film. ACMI now holds a significant archive of complex, time-based media works and videogames, as well as an everexpanding repository of digitised content and born-digital material. An ACMI touring exhibition.
JULY — 12 OCTOBER 2025
Katthy Cavaliere, Nest 3, 2010, chromogenic colour print on paper, 100 x 68cm, MRAG Collection Gift of the artist's estate, 2017
MOTHER
FROM THE MAITLAND
REGIONAL ART GALLERY COLLECTION
JULY — 26 OCTOBER 2025
‘Mother’ as a subject, concept or idea has been explored and depicted by artists across time and cultures.
In the final weeks before we farewell Ron Mueck’s Pregnant woman, MRAG presents a selection of works from the MRAG Collection that reflect on new life, family bonds, love and loss that can all be the experience of Motherhood.
MAITLAND AND MORPETH STRING QUARTET
Illustration by Victoria Roberts, The Maitland & Morpeth String Quartet (book detail), 1980
An animated film by Anne Jolliffe from Jollification
Maitland and its sleepy neighbour, Morpeth, are never quite the same again, all due to a middle-aged couple and their hobby of violin playing. This animated film is a delight to both eye and ear. Victoria Roberts' quirky cartoons are perfect complements for Nick Enright’s cleverly constructed poem, while Ruth Cracknell’s reading of all parts adds wit and charm. Both Enright and Cracknell hail from Maitland, making this a very special Maitland and Morpeth story.
Darren Horsfield, Recycled Monster Art (detail), 2024, reclaimed plastics, dimensions variable
RECYCLED MONSTER ART
DARREN HORSFIELD
The national organisation Clean Up Australia state that every year Australia consumes about 3.5 million tonnes of plastic and yet only about 13% of this plastic is recycled and that every year 130,000 tons of plastic waste ends up in our marine environments.
Recycled Monster Art is inspired by the plastic that artist Darren Horsfield finds lying around the streets in Newcastle, Maitland and the Central Coast. The exhibition will feature an installation of over 100 individual plastic monsters created by Darren and during the exhibition period Darren will set up his studio in The Project space at MRAG as artist in residence. As a series of art encounters, Darren will invite people to sit down and join him in his quest to reuse and recycle and make art with discarded plastic.
Juz Kitson, The Sanctuary; All That Is, 2021, porcelain, reclaimed rabbit fur, resin, marine ply and treated pine, 124 x 70 x 35cm.
Donated to the MRAG Collection through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Juz Kitson, 2022
MUD TO MASTERPIECE
AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS
Far from the traditional utilitarian uses of clay, Mud to Masterpiece is an exhibition that delves into the world of contemporary ceramics, where the boundaries of tradition and innovation are pushed to their limits. Presenting a dynamic collection of works by bold artists, this exhibition celebrates the transformative power of clay as a medium for experimentation.
Mud to Masterpiece will feature the genre-defying work WAVE which unites the mythic imagery and ceramics of South Australian potter Gerry Wedd and the sonic intensity of composer and performer Gabriella Smart and filmmaker Mark Patterson.
Mud to Masterpiece presents work from artists moving clay around in exciting ways. From large-scale sculptural forms to the intricate and otherworldly, this electric, energetic exhibition showcases ceramic art transcending its traditional roots and entering the realm of masterpiece.
Image still: WAVE, 2022, Gerry Wedd, Mark Patterson, Gabriella Smart, digital video with sound, 12 min
Xander Holliday, Astrid (detail), 2024, acrylic on linen, 100 x 100 cm, photo: Mitch Revs
SUMMER HOLLIDAY
XANDER HOLLIDAY
Maitland local Xander Holliday continues his abstract portrait series in Summer Holliday
In a celebration of graphic form and bold colour, Summer Holliday invites the viewer to relive their own cherished summer memories. The exhibition features pop-art portraits of colourful characters with a hint of Aussie nostalgia.
Grab your towel and dive into his colour-filled world!
Ben Quilty, Irin Irinji no.2, 2019, oil on linen, 222 x 244 cm
Donated to the MRAG Collection through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Ben Quilty, 2022
SHARED
FROM THE MRAG COLLECTION
In 2025 Maitland Regional Art Gallery celebrates its 50th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, MRAG presents Shared, an exhibition of special works from the Collection that have been Prized, Gifted, Collected and Shared by the Gallery across that time.
Benjamin Gallagher, Compression of a Trade, 2022, hardwood, lead, welsh slate, wool underlay, copper, bitumen, steel, oregon, leather, salvaged iron casting and hand forged clouts, 52 x 26.5 x 54 cm, photo: Alex McIntyre Photography
THE WOODEN CITY
BENJAMIN GALLAGHER
In The Wooden City, Benjamin Gallagher presents highly laboured, beautifully constructed forms that focus on his own observations of the buildings we inhabit. His studies in architecture and industrial design play alongside his decades long experience working with his father as a heritage tradesman, mostly in the highly skilled restoration of slate roofs, many of those in Maitland.
“ I analyse buildings, both old and new. Be they serious and considered or rustic and humble, I find intrigue in the process of their construction, the decisions made on their behalf, on behalf of the culture they inhabit. Studies in architecture and industrial design set against my working life as a heritage roof slater and copper-smith have enabled me a unique perspective. The charm and romanticism of a Victorian handrail captivates me in equal measure to the formfinish surface a brutalist wall. ”
– BENJAMIN GALLAGHER
Lucy Culliton, Untitled, 2006, pencil and pastel on paper, 29.5 x 20.5cm MRAG Collection. Purchased in 2006
THE SHOW
LUCY CULLITON
Lucy Culliton’s exhibition The Show explores the vibrant culture of regional agricultural shows through her unique lens, celebrating the people, landscapes, and eccentricities of regional life. In her work Culliton captures the energy and warmth of local agricultural fairs, evoking nostalgia and community spirit. It brings to life quirky characters, lively animals and rustic scenes that define these beloved annual events.
NOVEMBER 2025 — 22 FEBRUARY 2026
2025 ARTS HEALTH | FREE PROGRAM
Conversations:
ART & DEMENTIA
Conversations: Art & Dementia is a free 90 minute social tour of exhibitions created specifically for people living with dementia and their carers. The tours are guided by a trained facilitator who uses art as a gateway for conversation and self-expression, enabling visitors to express their thoughts and emotions in a friendly and supportive environment.
COMMUNITY
INFO SESSION
THU 30 JAN, 10:30AM
FEBRUARY
THU 13, 10:30AM
TUE 25, 2:00PM
MARCH
THU 13, 10:30AM
TUE 25, 2:00PM
APRIL
THU 10, 10:30PM
TUE 29, 2:00PM
MAY
THU 08, 10:30PM TUE 27, 2:00PM
JUNE
THU 12, 10:30PM TUE 24, 2:00PM
JULY
THU 03, 10:30PM TUE 29, 2:00PM
AUGUST
THU 14, 10:30PM TUE 26, 2:00PM
SEPTEMBER
THU 11, 10:30PM TUE 23, 2:00PM
OCTOBER
THU 16, 10:30PM TUE 28, 2:00PM
NOVEMBER
THU 13, 10:30PM TUE 25, 2:00PM
DECEMBER
THU 04, 10:30PM TUE 16, 2:00PM
Photo: Leighsa Cox
2025 ARTS HEALTH | FREE PROGRAM
JOURNEYS
Creative Connections
A great way to connect in a safe environment, the workshop welcomes people with a lived mental health experience to connect with art and community. Join us on the third Friday of each month.
Materials supplied. Bookings essential and for all enquiries contact Flourish Australia, phone: 02 9393 9700 or email: juan.du@flourishaustralia.org.au
Photo: Leighsa Cox
2025 KIDS & FAMILIES | FREE PROGRAM
ART TRAILS
Are you good at solving puzzles?
Do you think that you can locate some hidden treasures in the art gallery?
Then grab a Code Breaker from the front desk and use the clues to crack the code!
Photo: Leighsa Cox
2025 KIDS & FAMILIES | FREE PROGRAM
FREE ART SUNDAY
Sponsored by our Members & Cleverpatch
Free Art Sunday is designed to encourage parents and children to add to their experience of the gallery by accessing hands-on activities in a family-friendly environment.
Photo: Leighsa Cox
2025 KIDS & FAMILIES | FREE PROGRAM
FREE ART JANUARY
Sponsored by our Members & Cleverpatch
Every year we have a festival of art and artmaking for young people with a bumper program released each Summer.
Photo: Leighsa Cox
2025 TEENS | FREE PROGRAM
THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS
Sponsored by EJE Architecture
Many young people are curious about art, buildings, design and engineering. Our Young Architects program is an initiative aimed at nurturing creative design thinking with fun workshops led by a team of architects and artists. Free program. Bookings via the MRAG website
Photo: Newy Digital
2025 SCHOOL TERM
SCHOOL VISITS & WORKSHOPS
MRAG is a significant local resource valued by educators, not only for its exhibitions and art collection, but for its public spaces, big backyard and workshop facilities. We enjoy working with educators to create a gallery experience that meets the needs and interests of their students.
Education Mondays
The Gallery is closed to the public on Mondays, but during each school term we welcome teachers and students for exclusive Gallery access, affordable workshops or self-directed activities. The Cafe is closed on Mondays, so students have extra space to explore. Students are also invited to have lunch or morning tea in our spacious garden.
To book your school or group visit, email artgallery@maitland.nsw.gov.au or call the Gallery on 02 4934 9859.
Photo: Jessica Ward
GALLERY STORE
Your one-stop destination for artisan gifts in the Lower Hunter.
Whether you are shopping for a friend, for family or looking to spoil yourself, the Gallery Store has something for everyone. With over 500 unique items made by more than 100 Australian makers our shelves are stocked with jewellery, ceramics, glass, as well as an enviable range of books, cards and some easy gifting pieces just for fun! Gallery Members enjoy 10% off, always.
Vouchers and complimentary gift-wrapping available.
Products featured made by: Sophia Emmett, Barbi Lock-Lee and Dinosuar Designs.
SÉRAPHINE CAFÉ
Open for breakfast, lunch, coffee and cakes.
Named after the 18th century French artist, Séraphine Café is a popular café at the rear of the Gallery including indoor dining and a stunning alfresco area surrounded by a boutique garden.
OPEN TUESDAY TO SUNDAY, 8.00AM — 2.00PM
Photo: Good Thanks Media
VENUE HIRE
Book an event to remember at Maitland Regional Art Gallery
The Gallery is an exciting, contemporary art and cultural destination and a dynamic venue for your special event.
Whether you are planning a meeting, presentation, product launch, cocktail party, ceremony or formal dinner, we have a variety of options to make your event memorable.
For more information, visit mrag.org.au/venue-hire
Photo: Leighsa Cox
BECOME A MEMBER
of Maitland Regional Art Gallery
Maitland Regional Art Gallery Members enjoy a range of benefits, including discounted tickets to our exhibitions and programs, and invitations to special Member events.
Become a Gallery Member and your contribution will help us deliver engaging education and Arts Health programs. Join our community today at mrag.org.au/become-a-member
MRAG members art sale
Photo: Leighsa Cox
Photo: Kat Forrest, Good Thanks Media
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK
Maitland Regional Art Gallery is a service of Maitland City Council with funding of our artistic program through Create NSW. We thank all the artists who will make this program possible, filling the Gallery with insight, imagination and creative expertise.
We also acknowledge and tip our hats to our partners, funding bodies, members and volunteers.
To our friends and donors, we thank you – you make a vital contribution to the cultural landscape of our City.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery would like to thank Jennings Print Group for their generous support in the production of this program.
MAITLAND REGIONAL ART GALLERY
ART GALLERY & STORE
Tuesday – Sunday, 9.00am – 4.00pm
Address: 230 High Street, PO Box 220, Maitland, NSW, 2320
Phone: 02 4934 9859
Email: artgallery@maitland.nsw.gov.au
CAFÉ SÉRAPHINE
Tuesday – Sunday, 8.00am – 2.00pm
Phone: 02 4934 7264
MRAG.ORG.AU
@maitlandregionalartgallery
@Maitland.Regional.Art.Gallery
#MRAG #MaitlandRegionalArtGallery
All images of artwork copyright of the artists or artist's estate